Epoxy resin/polyoxyalkylenemonoamine product with hardener

ABSTRACT

An elastically-cured epoxy resin composition is disclosed that contains compounds that contain at least two 1,2-epoxide groups. The epoxide group-containing compounds are reaction products of compounds (A1) that contain at least two 1,2-epoxide groups per molecule, polyoxyalkylenemonoamines (A2) that have a molecular weight (number average) greater than 900 g/mol, and optionally polycarboxylic acids (A3). The polyoxyalkylenemonoamines (A2) are polyoxypropylenemonoamines which preferably contain a mole fraction of up to 20% of oxyethylene units based on the total amount of oxypropylene and oxyethylene units. The resin composition additionally contains at least one hardener (B) and, if desired, customary additives (C).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an elastic epoxy resin hardener system. Epoxy resins, in particular those which are prepared from bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin, are known raw materials for the preparation of high-quality casting resins, coating compositions and adhesives. These epoxy resins may be cured by means of polyamines and possess, besides good chemical and solvent resistance, good adhesion to many substrates. The usability of these resin/hardener systems is often limited by insufficient elasticity or flexibility in the crosslinked state. In particular for applications in which temperature-change stresses have to be taken up by a high elasticity of the coating materials, the elasticity of the unmodified standard epoxy resin systems is insufficient. In the adhesives sector, there is a need for epoxy resin systems which are still sufficiently elastic at low temperatures, i.e. below 0° C. In the automobile industry, use is made of epoxy resin adhesives which are only slightly flexible in the cured state. Although the adhesive bonds obtained with these resins have a high tensile shear strength, they easily separate by peeling under a lateral force. Adhesives which allow high tensile shear strengths to be achieved frequently give only a low angle peeling strength.

In adhesive bonding of metal sheets in the automobile industry, a procedure frequently used during basic body construction is first to apply the adhesive warm to oiled bright metal sheets, but not to cure it at this stage. On cooling, the adhesive solidifies. In the manufacturing process the prefabricated parts or the basic vehicle bodies are treated to remove the rolling grease in washing, phosphating and cataphoretic immersion-finish baths prior to curing in an oven. There is, therefore, a need for adhesives which have sufficient wash-out resistance even prior to curing. In particular, the cured adhesive system has to sufficiently protect the bright metal sheet against corrosion under the point of adhesion.

In principle, the elasticity of epoxy resin systems can be increased externally by addition of plasticizer or internally by reducing the crosslinking density. External elasticizing agents are not reactive and are not incorporated into the thermoset network. This type of modification is limited to specific application areas, since it has a series of disadvantages. These additives lead to considerable disruption of the thermoset structure, are limited in their plasticizing effect at low temperatures, tend to sweat out on thermal stressing and aging and result in cured systems that are brittle. To internally increase the elasticity, additions are made of compounds which react with the epoxy resins or hardeners and are incorporated in the crosslinking. In detail, the elasticizing action is achieved by incorporation of long-chain aliphatic or strongly branched additives into the resin or hardener component.

Vazirani (Adhesives Age, Oct. 1980, pp. 31-35) describes flexible single-component and two-component epoxy resin systems based on polyoxypropylenediamines and polyoxypropylenetriamines. The curing of the single-component system is carried out using dicyandiamide.

EP 0 354 498 (DE 3 827 626) discloses a reactive melt adhesive which contains a resin component, at least one thermally activatable latent hardener for the resin component and, if desired, accelerators, fillers, thixotropes and further customary additives. The resin component is obtained by reaction of

(a) an epoxy resin which is solid at room temperature and

(b) an epoxy resin which is liquid at room temperature together with

(c) a linear polyoxypropylene having amino end groups.

The resins which are solid at room temperature are ones which for further processing have to be heated to above 50° C. so as to lower the viscosity sufficiently for incorporation of further constituents of the melt adhesive to be made possible. In the reaction of the epoxy resins with the linear polyoxypropylene having amino end groups, a large excess of epoxide groups, based on the amino groups, is required so that the amino groups are completely reacted. A 5-fold to 10-fold excess is typical.

WO 93/00381 describes a further development of EP 0 354 498 that has improved low-temperature properties. The amino component comprises linear amino-terminated polyethylene glycols or linear and/or trifunctional amino-terminated polypropylene glycols.

EP 0 109 174 describes an epoxy resin composition that comprises (A) a polyepoxide and (B) a hardener, wherein the polyepoxide has been reacted with from 50 to 70% by weight of a polyoxyalkylenemonoamine that has a molecular weight of from 900 to 2000 g/mol. The resin-hardener mixture described in this document can be used as a flexible adhesive in the form of a single-component or two-component system. It has a low viscosity and can therefore be used without addition of solvent. It is disclosed that only one series of adducts, namely those prepared from ®Jeffamine M-1000 (Texaco), shows a uniformly low viscosity independent of the amine content. In addition, it is pointed out that compositions containing less than 50% of polyoxyalkylenemonoamine have a relatively low flexibility at a high viscosity and compositions containing more than 70% of polyoxyalkylenemonoamine have relatively low adhesive strength and decreasing viscosity.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,170 describes water-dilutable epoxy resin compositions which comprise diepoxides that are obtained by partial reaction of diepoxides with polyoxyalkylenamines that have a molecular weight of from 900 to 2500 g/mol, and a latent hardener in aqueous medium. According to this document, epoxy resins are brought into a water-compatible form via incorporation of polyoxyalkylenepolyamines and are used in combination with latent hardeners as a single-component adhesive system. The polyoxyalkylenepolyamines are, in particular, polyoxyalkylenediamines and polyoxyalkylenemonoamines. The patent indicates that the polyoxyalkyleneamines have to be predominantly polyoxyethyleneamines to achieve sufficient solubility of the epoxy resin system in water (column 3, lines 23 to 26). Polyoxypropyleneamines do not achieve the objective of the patent (Example V), viz. the provision of water-dilutable systems.

The polyoxyalkylenemonoamines that have advantageous properties are described in this document as having the formula (column 2, lines 60 to 67)

    CH.sub.3 -(O-CH.sub.2 -CH.sub.2).sub.r -[O-CH.sub.2 -CH(CH.sub.3)].sub.S -NH.sub.2,

where r is from 16 to 25 and s is from 1 to 6.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide reactive, flexible adhesives which have high peeling strength not only at room temperature but also at low temperatures, i.e., of 0° C. and lower. At the same time, the tensile shear strength values should not be impaired. Good corrosion protection of the cured adhesive system is to be ensured. It is advantageous if the epoxy resins have viscosities which make possible easy processing without requiring additional apparatus.

These and other objects according to the invention are provided by an elastically-cured epoxy resin composition comprising:

(A) a compound that contains at least two 1,2-epoxide groups and that is a reaction product of:

(A1) a compound that contains at least two 1,2-epoxide groups per molecule, and

(A2) a polyoxyalkylenemonoamine that has a number average molecular weight greater than 900 g/mol, wherein the oxyalkylene units are selected from oxypropylene and mixtures of oxypropylene and oxyethylene groups, the latter being present in an amount of up to 20% of the total number of oxyalkylene groups, and, optionally,

(A3) a polycarboxylic acid, and

(B) a hardener.

Preferably, the compound (A1) has an epoxide equivalent weight of from 150 to 250 g/mol and the polyoxyalkylenemonoamine (A2) has a molecular weight between 900 and 5000 g/mol, preferably between 900 and 2500 g/mol, more preferably between 900 and 1200 g/mol. More particularly, the polyoxyalkylenemonoamine (A2) contains a mole fraction of up to 20% of oxyethylene units based on the total amount of oxypropylene and oxyethylene units. Preferably it is a compound having the formula

    CH.sub.3 -(O-CH.sub.2 -CH.sub.2).sub.y -[O-CH.sub.2 -CH(CH.sub.3)].sub.x -NH.sub.2,

wherein x is at least five times y.

Component (A3) preferably is a dimeric fatty acid that has an acid number of from 150 to 230 mg KOH/g, particularly a dicarboxylic acid of the formula

    HOOC-CH.sub.2 -[OR.sup.1 ].sub.n -O-CH.sub.2 -COOH

where R¹ is an alkylene radical that has from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, and n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 300. In a preferred embodiment, R¹ in formula (1) is an ethylene radical and n is an integer from 1 to 50. Component (A3) may be polyglycolic acid 600.

Compositions according to the invention preferably comprise from 20 to 80% of component (A2) and, optionally, from 0.1 to 30% of component (A3), based on the weight of the component A1.

The hardener (B) preferably is dicyandiamide, N-aminoethylpiperazine, or a mixture of N-aminoethylpiperazine and nonylphenol. The composition may additionally contain an additive, for example, an accelerator.

The present invention provides a method of bonding two materials, comprising the steps of coating a layer of the inventive composition on a surface of a first material and contacting the coated surface of the first material with a surface of a second material. The surface of the second material additionally may be coated with a layer of the composition. In a preferred embodiment, the two materials are parts of an automobile.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It has now surprisingly been found that excellent corrosion-resistant flexible adhesive bonds can be achieved by cured epoxy resins which are obtained by reacting 1,2-epoxides with polyoxyalkylenemonoamines having molecular weights of greater than 900 g/mol.

The present invention accordingly provides elastic cured epoxy resin compositions comprising

(A) compounds that contain at least two 1,2-epoxide groups and are reaction products of

(A1) compounds containing at least two 1,2-epoxide groups per molecule

(A2) polyoxyalkylenemonoamines that have a molecular weight (number average) greater than 900 g/mol, which may, if desired, contain a mole fraction of up to 20% of polyoxyethylene units based on the total amount of polyoxypropylene and polyoxyethylene units

(A3) if desired, polycarboxylic acids, and

(B) hardeners and

(C) if desired, customary additives.

Suitable epoxide components (A1) are many compounds known for this purpose which contain on average more than one epoxide group, preferably two epoxide groups, per molecule. These epoxide compounds (epoxy resins) can be either saturated or unsaturated. They can be aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic and can contain hydroxyl groups. They can contain substituents which do not cause any interfering secondary reactions under the mixing or reaction conditions, for example alkyl or aryl substituents, ether groups and the like. Preferably these compounds are glycidyl ethers which are derived from polyhydric phenols, in particular bisphenols and novolaks and whose epoxide equivalent weights are between 150 and 500 g/mol, but in particular between 150 and 250 g/mol.

The polyhydric phenols are aromatic compounds that contain two or more hydroxyl groups. The aromatic compounds are monocyclic or polycyclic aromatics, or compounds in which a plurality of such aromatics are connected by direct bonds or divalent groups such as ether, ketone, sulfide, sulfone, carboxylic ester or carboxamide groups.

Examples of polyhydric phenols which may be mentioned include resorcinol, hydroquinone, 2,2-bis(4'-hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A), mixtures of isomers of dihydroxydiphenylmethane (bisphenol F), tetrabromobisphenol A, 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylcyclohexane, 4,4'-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethyldiphenylpropane, 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl, 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone, bis(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1-ethane, bis(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1-isobutane, bis(4'-hydroxytert-butylphenyl)-2,2-propane, bis(2-hydroxynaphthyl)methane, 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene, tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ether, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone, inter alia, and also the chlorination and bromination products of the above mentioned compounds. Very particular preference is given to liquid diglycidyl ethers based on bisphenol A that have an epoxide equivalent weight of from 180 to 190 g/mol.

It also is possible to use polyglycidyl ethers of polyalcohols, such as ethanediol 1,2-diglycidyl ether, propanediol 1,2-diglycidyl ether, propanediol 1,3-diglycidyl ether, butanediol diglycidyl ether, pentanediol diglycidyl ether (also neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether), hexanediol diglycidyl ether, diethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, dipropylene glycol diglycidyl ether, higher polyoxyalkylene glycol diglycidyl ethers such as higher polyoxyethylene glycol diglycidyl ethers and polyoxypropylene glycol diglycidyl ethers, mixed polyoxyethylene-propylene glycol diglycidyl ethers, polyoxytetramethylene glycol diglycidyl ethers, polyglycidyl ethers of glycerol, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolethane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, polyglycidyl ethers of alkoxylated polyols, such as glycerol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, etc., diglycidyl ethers of bis(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexane, bis(4-hydroxycyclohexyl)methane and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxycyclohexyl)propane, polyglycidyl ethers of castor oil, triglycidyltris(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate. Preference is given to using polyoxypropylene glycol diglycidyl ethers that have an epoxide equivalent weight of from 150 to 800 g/mol, in particular from 300 to 400 g/mol.

In particular cases, small amounts of reactive diluents also can be used in addition to the polyglycidyl ethers. Examples of such diluents include methyl glycidyl ether, butyl glycidyl ether, allyl glycidyl ether, ethylhexyl glycidyl ether, long-chain aliphatic glycidyl ethers such as cetyl glycidyl ether and stearyl glycidyl ether, monoglycidyl ethers of a higher isomeric alcohol mixture, glycidyl ether of a mixture of C₁₂ to C₁₃ alcohols, phenyl glycidyl ether, cresyl glycidyl ether, p-t-butylphenyl glycidyl ether, p-octylphenyl glycidyl ether, p-phenylphenyl glycidyl ether, glycidyl ether of an alkoxylated lauryl alcohol, etc. in amounts of up to 30%, preferably 10-20%, based on the weight of the polyglycidyl ethers.

Further suitable compounds are poly(N-glycidyl) compounds which are obtainable by dehydrohalogenation of the reaction products of epichlorohydrin and amines such as aniline, n-butylamine, bis(4-aminophenyl)methane, m-xylylenediamine or bis(4-methylaminophenyl)methane. However, the poly(N-glycidyl) compounds also include triglycidyl isocyanurate, N,N'-diglycidyl derivatives of cycloalkylene ureas and diglycidyl derivatives of hydantoins, etc.

Use also can be made of polyglycidyl esters of polycarboxylic acids, which are obtained by reaction of epichlorohydrin or similar epoxy compounds with an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic polycarboxylic acid such as oxalic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and higher dicarboxylic acid diglycidyl esters, such as dimerized or trimerized linolenic acid. Examples are diglycidyl adipate, diglycidyl phthalate and diglycidyl hexahydrophthalate.

A comprehensive listing of suitable epoxide compounds is given in the handbook "Epoxidverbindungen und Epoxidharze" by A. M. Paquin, Springer Verlag, Berlin 1958, chapter IV, and in Lee Neville "Handbook of Epoxy Resins", 1967 chapter 2. Furthermore, reference is here made to EP-A 272 595 and 286 933. Mixtures of a plurality of epoxy resins can also be used.

Suitable polyoxyalkylenemonoamines include polyoxypropylenemonoamines that may, if desired, contain a mole fraction of up to 20% of polyoxyethylene units based on the total amount of polyoxypropylene and polyoxyethylene units. Compounds which have been found to be particularly useful for the formation of the epoxides (A) are those of the following formula:

    Z-(O-CH.sub.2 -CH.sub.2).sub.y -[O-CH.sub.2 -CH(CH.sub.3)].sub.x -NH.sub.2

where Z is a hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, particularly preferably a methyl radical. The numerical values of x and y are selected in such a way that the molecular weight of the amine is at least 900 g/mol, and x is at least five times y, where y can also be 0.

Above-described monoamine block copolymers containing oxypropylene and, if desired, oxyethylene groups are sold, for example, by Texaco Chemical Co., Inc. under the trade name ®Jeffamine M series. Particular mention may here be made of ®Jeffamine M 2005, which has a molecular weight of about 2000 g/mol and an oxypropylene/oxyethylene ratio of 32:3 (8.6% mole fraction of oxyethylene units).

Preference is given to polyoxypropylenemonoamines that have up to 20 mol % oxyethylene units, and have a molecular weight of about 1000 g/mol.

The polycarboxylic acids (A4) which also are used, if desired, are preferably long-chain dicarboxylic acids. Examples which may be mentioned are aliphatic dicarboxylic acids in which the aliphatic radical generally contains from 1 to 50, preferably from 2 to 44, carbon atoms, such as succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid and dodecanoic acid. Suitable cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids whose cycloaliphatic radical usually comprises from 5 to 12, preferably from 6 to 8, carbon atoms are, for example, the various cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid isomers, hexahydrophthalic acid and tetrahydrophthalic acid.

Preference is given to dimeric fatty acids which are prepared from monounsaturated or polyunsaturated natural or synthetic monobasic aliphatic fatty acids that have from 16 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 18 carbon atoms, by known methods such as thermal or catalytic dimerization or by copolymerization in the presence of polymerizable compounds such as styrene or homologs, cyclopentadiene, etc. Particular preference is given to using dimeric fatty acids that have an acid number of from 150 to 230 mg KOH/g.

The components (A4) also can be dicarboxylic acids containing oxyalkylene, preferably oxyethylene groups, and that have the formula

    HOOC-CH.sub.2 -[OR].sub.n -O-CH.sub.2 COOH

where R is a branched or unbranched alkylene radical having from 2 to 5, preferably 2, carbon atoms and n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 300, preferably from 1 to 50 and in particular from 1 to 25. Examples of these compounds include 3,6-dioxaoctanedioic acid, 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioic acid, polyglycol dicarboxylic acid that have a molecular weight of from about 400 to 1000 g/mol, preferably of about 600 g/mol, or mixtures of such acids. The preparation of these compounds is known (for example DE-A 2 936 123) and is carried out, for example, by oxidation of polyglycols in the presence of catalysts.

The epoxide compounds (A) of the invention can be prepared by reacting the epoxides (A1) with the polyalkylenemonoamines (A2) while stirring and generally while heating until the theoretically calculated epoxide equivalent weight is reached, that is, until all active hydrogens of the polyoxyalkylenemonoamine have reacted with the excess of epoxide groups present. The reaction temperatures are generally kept at from 25° to 200° C., preferably at from 50° to 150° C., in particular at from 80° to 130° C. Depending on the temperature and the epoxides and amines used, the reaction times are generally between a few minutes and a number of hours. In most cases no additional catalysts are required for quantitative reaction of the amines with the epoxides.

In the preparation of the epoxide compounds (A) of the invention, it is also possible to use various epoxides (A1) as a mixture and react them directly with polyoxyalkylenemonoamines (A2) and, if desired, the carboxylic acids (A3). It is also possible to carry out a targeted, stepwise build-up using various epoxides successively by reacting a first epoxide (epoxide I) with an excess of the polyoxyalkylenemonoamines, e.g., 2 mol of active amine hydrogens per mol of epoxide groups, and, after complete reaction of the epoxide groups of the epoxide I, adding a further epoxide (epoxide II) in excess based on the active amine hydrogen atoms still available.

Any modification to be carried out using the polycarboxylic acids (A3) is generally carried out by reaction of the epoxide (A1) with the acid component (A3) prior to the reaction with the monoamines (A2), but can in principle also be carried out after the epoxide (A1)-amine (A2) reaction.

The reaction of the polycarboxylic acid with the epoxide compounds (A1) or the adduct of epoxide and amine (A1 and A2) can be carried out at elevated temperatures without catalysts, but proceeds substantially more quickly and gives very low residual acid numbers if catalysts are used.

Examples of catalysts which can be used for the targeted and accelerated reaction of the carboxyl groups of the component (A3) with the epoxide groups of the component (A1) or of the adduct of (A1) and (A2) include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, chromium compounds such as CrCl₃, CrO₃, chromium acetylacetonate, imidazoles, imidazolines, quaternary ammonium and phosphonium compounds such as benzyltrimethylammonium chloride, tetraethylammonium chloride, tetramethylammonium chloride, benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, benzyldodecyldimethylammonium chloride, methyltriphenylphosphonium iodide, triphenyl(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)phosphonium hydroxide, ethyltriphenylphosphonium acetate, triphenylethylphosphonium bromide and also organic phosphines such as triphenylphosphine, tricyclohexylphosphine, tributylphosphine, cyclohexyloctylphosphine, furthermore aromatic amines such as N,N-dimethylaniline, N,N-diethylaniline, N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine, N,N-diethyl-p-toluidine and also amines such as triethylamine, tributylamine, benzyldimethylamine, benzyldiethylamine, triethylenediamine, N-methylmorpholine, N-methylpiperidine, N-alkylamines such as n-butylamine and alkanolamines such as diethanoiamine, dimethylethanolamine, diethylethanolamine, dibutylethanolamine, triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, methyldiethanolamine, di(3-phenoxy-2-hydroxypropyl)alkylamines such as di(3-phenoxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-n-butylamine, etc. These catalysts are generally used in amounts of from 0.01 to 5%, preferably from 0.05 to 2%, based on the weights of (A1) to (A3).

Hardeners (component (B)) used can be, for a two-component process, any known amine hardener for 1,2-epoxides. Examples which may be mentioned include aliphatic amines such as the polyalkylenepolyamines, diethylenetriamine and triethylenetetramine, trimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2-methylpentanediamine (Dytek A), oxyalkylenepolyamines such as polyoxypropylenediamine and polyoxypropylenetriamine and 1,13-diamino-4,7,10-trioxatridecane, cycloaliphatic amines such as isophoronediamine (3,5,5-trimethyl-3-aminomethylcyclohexylamine), 4,4'-diaminodicyclohexylmethane, 3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-diaminodicyclohexylmethane, N-cyclohexyl-1,3-propanediamine, 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, piperazine, N-aminoethylpiperazine, the TCD-diamine isomers (3 {or 4}, 8 {or 9}-bis(aminomethyl)tricyclo[5.2.1.0²,6 ]decane), araliphatic amines, such as xylyenediamines, aromatic amines such as phenylenediamines, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, etc., adduct hardeners which are the reaction products of epoxide compounds, in particular glycidyl ethers of bisphenol A and F, with excess amine, polyamidoamine hardeners which are obtained by condensation of monocarboxylic and polycarboxylic acids with polyamines, in particular by condensation of dimeric fatty acids with polyalkylenepolyamines, Mannich-base hardeners which are obtained by reaction of monohydric or polyhydric phenols with aldehydes, in particular formaldehyde, and polyamines.

Particularly preferred hardeners for the two-component procedure are Mannich bases, for example, based on phenol, formaldehyde and m-xylylenediamine and also N-aminoethylpiperazine and mixtures of N-aminoethylpiperazine with nonylphenol.

Use of single-component systems is often desired, since the processor does not have to carry out mixing of individual components directly before use of the system, for example, as an adhesive. Single-component systems are obtained by mixing the epoxide component (A) with a latent hardener. Such mixtures generally have a storage stability of a number of weeks or months at room temperature, i.e. the viscosity remains constant or rises only slightly over this period of time. One of the frequently used latent hardeners is dicyandiamide (cyanoguanidine). Dicyandiamide is itself not a hardener at room temperature. It decomposes at elevated temperatures and effects a hardening of the epoxide system via reactive dissociation products. Flexible single-component epoxy resin systems are prepared by dispersion of the latent hardener, for example, the dicyandiamide, as component (B) in the flexibilized epoxy resin component (A), if desired together with additives (C) such as a thixotrope.

The hardeners (B) generally are used in amounts of from 0.01 to 50, preferably from 1 to 40, % by weight, based on the weight of the component (A). Curing with dicyandiamide is generally carried out using amounts of from 0.01 to 20%, preferably from 0.5 to 15%, based on the weight of the component A, and, if desired, an accelerator can be added in an amount of from 0.01 to 10%, preferably from 0.1 to 7%, based on the weight of the component (A) (cf. description of additives).

The incorporation of the hardeners (B) and of any accelerators should be carried out below the reaction temperature of the respective resin/hardener system. It can here become necessary to cool the reaction mixture during the dispersion process.

Using the polyamine hardeners specified for the two-component process, it is possible in principle to cure the components (A) and (B) at room temperature. However, these relatively low temperatures frequently do not give optimum properties of the cured system. For the single-component system using latent hardeners, such as dicyandiamide, an elevated temperature is required in any case for initiating the crosslinking reaction. The curing temperature of the composition of the invention is generally from 5° to 260° C., preferably from 120° to 200° C. The curing time at temperatures of from 120° to 200° C. is generally from 10 to 200 minutes.

Besides the components (A) and (B), the composition of the invention can contain further customary additives such as accelerators or curing catalysts, further hardeners and additional curable resins or extender resins and also the customary surface coating additives such as pigments, pigment pastes, dyes, antioxidants, leveling agents or thickeners (thixotropes), antifoaming agents and/or wetting agents, reactive diluents, fillers, plasticizers, flame retardants and the like. These additives can be added to the curable mixtures either some time before or just directly before processing.

The accelerators used, in particular for curing by the two-component process using amine hardeners, can be, for example, phenols and alkylphenols having 1-12 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, cresol, the various xylenols, nonylphenol, polyphenols such as bisphenol A and F, OH-containing aromatic carboxylic acids such as salicylic acid, benzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and tertiary amines such as benzyldimethylamine, 1,3,5-tris(dimethylamino)phenol and the like.

It is frequently also necessary to accelerate the curing in the single-component process using latent hardeners such as dicyandiamide. Suitable accelerators which may be mentioned include tertiary amines such as benzyldimethylamine, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (Dabco), N,N-dimethylethanolamine are, 2,4-dimethylpyridine, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, substituted ureas, BF₃ -amine complexes, quaternary ammonium compounds such as benzyltrimethylammonium chloride, tetramethylammonium chloride, tetraethylammonium chloride, benzyldodecyldiethylammonium chloride and, in particular, imidazolines and imidazoles.

In detail, suitable imidazolines or imidazoles are, for example, the following compounds: 2-methylimidazoline, 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazoline, 2-phenylimidazoline, 2-undecylimidazoline, 2-heptadecylimidazoline, 2-ethylimidazoline, 2-isopropylimidazoline, 2,4-dimethylimidazoline, 2-phenyl-4-methylimidazoline, 2-benzylimidazoline, 2-(o-Tolyl)imidazoline, 2-(p-Tolyl)imidazoline, tetramethylene-bisimidazoline, 1,1,3-trimethyl-1,4-tetramethylene-bisimidazoline, 1,3,3-trimethyl-1,4-tetramethylene-bisimidazoline, 1,1,3-trimethyl-1,4-tetramethylene-bis-4-methylimidazoline, 1,2-phenylenebisimidazoline, 1,3-phenylenebisimidazoline, 1,4-phenylene-bisimidazoline, 1,4-phenylenebis-4-methylimidazoline. It is also possible to use any desired mixtures of the imidazolines.

Suitable imidazoles are imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, 2-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole, 5-methylimidazole, 1-ethylimidazole, 2-ethylimidazole, 1-propylimidazole, 2-propylimidazole, 2-isopropylimidazole, 1-butylimidazole, 2-octylimidazole, 2-undecylimidazole, 2-heptadecylimidazole, 2-cyclohexylimidazole, 1-phenylimidazole, 2-phenylimidazole, 2,4-dimethylimidazole, 1,2-dimethylimidazole, 4,5-dimethylimidazole, 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole, 1-ethyl-2-methylimidazole, 1-methyl-2-isopropylimidazole, 4-butyl-5-ethylimidazole, 2-cyclohexyl-4-methylimidazole, 1-benzyl-2-methylimidazole, 2-phenyl-4-methylimidazole, 4,5-diphenylimidazole, 2-ethyl-4-phenylimidazole, 2,4,5-trimethylimidazole, 2,4,5-tricyclohexylimidazole, 1,2,4,5-tetramethylimidazole and benzimidazoles and derivatives thereof. It is also possible to use any desired mixtures of the imidazoles.

Leveling agents which can be used are, for example, acetals such as polyvinylformal, polyvinylacetal, polyvinylbutyral, polyvinylacetobutyral, etc., polyethylene and polypropylene glycols, silicone resins, mixtures of zinc soaps, of fatty acids and aromatic carboxylic acids, in particular commercial products based on polyacrylates. The leveling agents also can be added to the component (A) in amounts of from 0.1 to 4%, preferably from 0.2 to 2.0%, based on the weight of (A).

As coupling agents and hydrophobicizing agents, use can be made of silanes. These can react both with the inorganic substrate and also with the organic polymer (adhesive, coating composition or the like) to form strong bonds. The improved adhesion can improve the mechanical properties, in particular after exposure to moisture. Appropriate products are offered, for example, under the name ®Dynasylan from Huls or by Degussa AG.

The dyes and pigments can be either inorganic or organic in nature. Examples which may be mentioned include titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, carbon black, conductivity black such as, for example, ®Printex XE 2 from Degussa. The organic dyes and pigments should be stable at the curing temperatures and should not to lead to any unacceptable shift in shade of color.

Suitable fillers are, for example, quartz flour, silicates, chalk, gypsum, kaolin, mica, barite, organic fillers such as, for example, polyamide powder and the like. Thixotropes and thickeners which can be used are, for example, Aerosil® (a finely divided silicon dioxide, e.g. the grades 150, 200, R 202, R 805 from Degussa), bentonite types (e.g. ®Sylodex 24 from Grace) and ®Bentone (Trademark of NL Chemicals).

The incorporation of the additives and fillers generally is carried out using forcing mixers such as dissolvers and compounders. Here too, it can be necessary to avoid premature reaction of the components by cooling the formulated resin/hardener system of the invention.

The epoxy resin composition of the invention can be used for coating and adhesive bonding of a great variety of materials, for example, metals, light metals, and also nonmetallic materials such as ceramic, glass, leather, rubber, wood, cardboard, plastic, composite materials, etc. The materials can be bonded adhesively to the same or other materials. The composition of the invention is particularly suitable as a structural adhesive in the automobile industry. The application to the substrate is carried out by known methods, for example by painting, rolling or deposition of the extruded bead of adhesive from suitable machines.

General Examples

I a) Preparation of the epoxide compounds of the invention (component A)

In a four-neck flask fitted with stirrer, thermometer and condenser, the epoxy resin (A1) was heated under nitrogen with the desired amount of the polyoxypropylenemonoamine according to the definition of (A2) at from 80° to 120° C. until the epoxide equivalent reached approximately the theoretically calculated value and remained constant. After from 30 to 60 minutes, the epoxide compound was removed from the flask.

EXAMPLE 1

In a four-neck flask fitted with stirrer, thermometer and condenser, 150 parts by weight of a polyoxypropylenemonoamine (®Jeffamine from the Texaco Chemical Company) having on average x=16 propyleneoxide units and a molecular weight of about 1000 g/mol were added under nitrogen to 350 parts by weight of a liquid epoxy resin based on bisphenol A and that had an epoxide equivalent (EV) of 183 g/mol. The mixture was then heated to 90° C. and kept at this temperature until the EV remained constant (about 6 hours). The reaction product was cooled and the flask emptied. The epoxy resin had the following properties:

    ______________________________________                                         Epoxide equivalent   301 g/mol                                                 Amine number         17.8 mg KOH/G                                             Viscosity at 25° C.                                                                          12030 mPa · s                                    ______________________________________                                    

I b) Preparation of the epoxide compounds of the invention (component A) modified by carboxylic acid

In a four-neck flask fitted with stirrer, thermometer and condenser, the epoxy resin (A1) was heated under nitrogen with the desired amount of a dicarboxylic acid to from 100° to 160° C. and a suitable catalyst, e.g., 0.1% (based on the total weight) of triethanolamine, was added. After from about 0.5 to 6 hours, the acid number was 0.1 mg KOH/g. This epoxide compound was further reacted with the desired amounts of polyoxypropylenemonoamine as described in Example I a.

II. Preparation of single-component adhesives

The epoxy resin component (A) was heated to about 60° C. and the dicyandiamide hardener was dispersed in the resin for 15 minutes using a dissolver at about 10000 revolutions/minute. The Aerosil was subsequently added in portions and, depending on the viscosity of the component (A), the mixture of the invention was homogenized at from 250 to 4000 revolutions/minute using the dissolver.

EXAMPLE 2

    ______________________________________                                         Epoxide resin according to Example 1100 GT                                     ______________________________________                                         ® Dyhard 100          10 GT                                                (Dicyandiamide from SKW Trostberg)                                             ® Aerosil 200 (Degussa AG)                                                                            4 GT                                                ______________________________________                                    

III. Test methods

1. Preparation of the test specimens for measuring the tensile shear strength

The test specimens were produced in accordance with DIN 53 281 Part 2 from steel sheet grade ST 1405 having a thickness of 0.75 mm. The steel strips were, without having been degreased, adhesively bonded on an overlapping area of 400 mm². Spacers of polytetrafluoroethylene film were used to obtain a defined adhesive layer of 0.2 mm. The adhesive was cured for, for example, 60 minutes at 180° C. After cooling the test specimen, adhesive which had exuded out the side was cut off.

2. Measurement of the tensile shear strength

The tensile shear strength of the test specimens made in accordance with III.1. was measured in accordance with DIN 53 283 as the mean of 5 individual values on a tensile tester in accordance with DIN 51 221, Part 2, from Zwick.

    ______________________________________                                         Tensile shear strength in accordance with                                                                 14.5                                                DIN 53283 (N/mm.sup.2)                                                         Peeling resistance in accordance with                                                                      3.1                                                DIN 53282 (N/mm.sup.2)                                                         Residual strength in accordance with                                                                      84                                                  the salt spray test (DIN 50021) after                                          500 hours (%)                                                                  ______________________________________                                    

3. Preparation of the test specimens for the salt spray test

The test specimens prepared in accordance with III.1. were, without degreasing, primed twice using a two-component epoxy resin primer. In this procedure, the entire surface including the overlap zone was coated. After each treatment, the coating was dried and cured for, for example, 10 minutes at 120° C.

4. Salt spray test

The test sheets prepared in accordance with III.3. were stored in a salt spray test apparatus in accordance with DIN 50 021 for, for example, 500 hours. The test specimens were then dried for 3 hours at room temperature and the tensile shear strength was measured in accordance with DIN 53 283 on a tensile tester in accordance with DIN 51 222, part 2. ##EQU1##

5. Preparation of the test specimens for measuring the peeling resistance

The test specimens were produced in accordance with DIN 53 281, Part 2, from steel sheet grade ST 1203 having a thickness of 0.5 mm. The steel strips were degreased with acetone and bent to an angle of 90° using a vise. Using a film drawing apparatus, a layer of 0.1 mm of the adhesive prepared in accordance with II. was applied to the outer surface of the longer shank. The metal strip thus coated with adhesive was then put together with a further metal strip not coated with adhesive to form a T-shaped test specimen which was symmetrical about the adhesive joint and which had an adhesively bonded area of 185×30 mm. The adhesive was cured in 60 minutes at 180° C. After cooling, adhesive exuded out the side was cut off.

6. Measurement of the peeling resistance

The peeling resistance of the test specimens produced in accordance with III. 5. was determined in accordance with DIN 53 282 as the mean of 5 individual values on a tensile tester in accordance with DIN 51 221, Part 3, from Zwick.

IV. Conclusion

The epoxy resin adhesive compositions of the invention give very high residual strengths according to the test method described. The values are several times those of corresponding epoxy resin adhesive compositions according to the prior art. A high corrosion protection activity of the epoxy resin adhesive system of the invention is thus demonstrated.

While the invention has been described in detail by reference to preferred embodiments and the foregoing examples, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications can be made to the invention without departing significantly from the spirit and scope thereof. In addition, the disclosures of all of the aforementioned documents are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cured epoxy resin composition comprising:(A) a compound that contains at least two 1,2-epoxide groups and that is a reaction product of:(A1) a compound that contains at least two 1,2-epoxide groups per molecule, (A2) a polyoxyalkylenemonoamine that has a number average molecular weight greater than 900 g/mol, wherein the oxyalkylene units are selected from oxypropylene and mixtures of oxypropylene and oxyethylene groups, the latter being present in an amount of up to 20% of the total number of oxyalkylene groups, and, optionally, (A3) a polycarboxylic acid, and (B) a hardener.
 2. A cured epoxy resin composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyoxyalkylenemonoamine contains a mole fraction of up to 20% of oxyethylene units based on the total amount of oxypropylene and oxyethylene units.
 3. A cured epoxy resin composition as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising at least one additive.
 4. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compound (A1) has an epoxide equivalent weight of from 150 to 250 g/mol.
 5. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyoxyalkylenemonoamine (A2) has the formula

    CH.sub.3 -(O-CH.sub.2 -CH.sub.2).sub.y -[O-CH.sub.2 -CH(CH.sub.3)].sub.x -NH.sub.2,

wherein x is at least five times y.
 6. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component (A2) has a number average molecular weight between 900 and 5000 g/mol.
 7. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component (A2) has a number average molecular weight between 900 and 2500 g/mol.
 8. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component (A2) has a number average molecular weight between 900 and 1200 g/mol.
 9. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component (A3) is present and comprises a dimeric fatty acid that has an acid number of from 150 to 230 mg KOH/g.
 10. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component (A3) is present and comprises a dicarboxylic acid of the formula

    HOOC-CH.sub.2 -[OR.sup.1 ].sub.n -O-CH.sub.2 -COOH         (1),

where R¹ is an alkylene radical that has from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, and n is 0 or an integer from 1 to
 300. 11. A composition as claimed in claim 10, wherein R¹ in formula (1) is an ethylene radical and n is an integer from 1 to
 50. 12. A composition as claimed in claim 10, wherein the component (A3) is present and comprises polyglycol dicarboxylic acid having a molecular weight of
 600. 13. A composition as claimed in claim 1, comprising from 20 to 80% of component (A2) and, optionally, from 0.1 to 30% of component (A3), based on the weight of the component A1.
 14. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hardener comprises a latent hardener.
 15. A composition as claimed in claim 14, wherein the hardener comprises dicyandiamide.
 16. A composition as claimed in claim 14, wherein the hardener comprises N-aminoethylpiperazine.
 17. A composition as claimed in claim 14, wherein the hardener comprises a mixture of N-aminoethylpiperazine and nonylphenol.
 18. A composition as claimed in claim 3, wherein the additive comprises an accelerator. 